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that mammoth bird waddle down the middle with its wings half
open； its long neck bridling； and its yellow legs in the first position
as it curtsied to its partner； was a sight to remember； it was so
intensely funny。
The merry old gentleman laughed till he cried； Mr。 Burton split his
gloves； he applauded so enthusiastically； while the children beat
the dust out of the carpet hopping up and down； as they cried： 〃Do
it again！〃 〃We want it all over！〃 when the curtain went down at last
on the flushed and panting party； Mother Gbowing； with her hat
all awry； and the goose doing a double shuffle as if it did not know
how to leave off。
But they could not 〃do it all over again；〃 for it was growing late；
and the people felt that they certainly had received their money's
worth that evening。
So it all ended merrily； and when the guests departed the boys
cleared the room like magic； and the promised supper to the actors
was served in handsome style。 Jack and Jill were at one end； Mrs。
Goose and her bird at the other； and all between was a comical
collection of military heroes； fairy characters； and nursery
celebrities。 All felt the need of refreshment after their labors； and
swept over the table like a flight of locusts； leaving devastation
behind。 But they had earned their fun： and much innocent jollity
prevailed； while a few lingering papas and mammas watched the
revel from afar； and had not the heart to order these noble beings
home till even the Father of his Country declared 〃that he'd had a
perfectly splendid time； but couldn't keep his eyes open another
minute；〃 and very wisely retired to replace the immortal cocked
hat with a night…cap。
Chapter 13 Jack Has a Mystery
〃What is the matter？ Does your head ache？〃 asked Jill； one
evening in March； observing that Jack sat with his head in his
hands； an attitude which； with him； meant either pain or
perplexity。
〃No； but I'm bothered。 I want some money； and I don't see how I
can earn it；〃 he answered； tumbling his hair about； and frowning
darkly at the fire。
〃How much？〃 and Jill's ready hand went to the pocket where her
little purse lay； for she felt rich with several presents lately made
her。
〃Two seventy…five。 No； thank you； I won't borrow。〃
〃What is it for？〃
〃Can't tell。〃
〃Why； I thought you told me everything。〃
〃Sorry； but I can't this time。 Don't you worry； I shall think of
something。〃
〃Couldn't your mother help？〃
〃Don't wish to ask her。〃
〃Why！ can't she know？〃
〃Nobody can。〃
〃How queer！ Is it a scrape； Jack？〃 asked Jill； looking as curious as
a magpie。
〃It is likely to be； if I can't get out of it this week； somehow。〃
〃Well； I don't see how I can help if I'm not to know anything〃； and
Jill seemed rather hurt。
〃You can just stop asking questions； and tell me how a fellow can
earn some money。 That would help。 I've got one dollar； but I must
have some more〃； and Jack looked worried as he fingered the little
gold dollar on his watch…guard。
〃Oh； do you mean to use that？〃
〃Yes； I do； a man must pay his debts if he sells all he has to do it；〃
said Jack sternly。
〃Dear me； it must be something very serious。〃 And Jill lay quite
still for five minutes； thinking over all the ways in which Jack ever
did earn money； for Mrs。 Minot liked to have her boys work； and
paid them in some way for all they did。
〃Is there any wood to saw？〃 she asked presently； being very
anxious to help。
〃All done。〃 〃Paths to shovel？〃
〃NO snow。 〃Lawn to rake； then？〃
〃Not time for that yet。〃
〃Catalogue of books？〃
〃Frank got that job。〃
〃Copy those letters for your mother？〃
〃Take me too long。 Must have my money Friday； if possible。〃
〃I don't see what we can do； then。 It is too early or too late for
everything； and you won't borrow。〃
〃Not of you。 No； nor of anyone else； if I can possibly help it。 I've
promised to do this myself； and I will〃； and Jack wagged his head
resolutely。
〃Couldn't you do something with the printing…press？ Do me some
cards； and then； perhaps； the other girls will want some；〃 said Jill；
as a forlorn hope。
〃Just the thing！ What a goose I was not to think of it。 I'll rig the old
machine up at once。〃 And； starting from his seat； Jack dived into
the big closet； dragged out the little press； and fell to oiling；
dusting； and putting it in order； like one relieved of a great anxiety。
〃Give me the types； I'll sort them and set up my name； so you can
begin as soon as you are ready。 You know what a help I was when
we did the programmes。 I'm almost sure the girls will want cards；
and I know your mother would like some more tags；〃 said Jill；
briskly rattling the letters into the different compartments； while
Jack inked the rollers and hunted up his big apron； whistling the
while with recovered spirits。
A dozen neat cards were soon printed； and Jill insisted on paying
six cents for them； as earning was not borrowing。 A few odd tags
were found and done for Mamma； who immediately ordered four
dozen at six cents a dozen； though she was not told why there was
such a pressing call for money。
Jack's monthly half…dollar had been spent the first week
twenty…five cents for a concert； ten paid a fine for keeping a book
too long from the library； ten more to have his knife ground； and
five in candy； for he dearly loved sweeties； and was under bonds to
Mamma not to spend more than five cents a month on these
unwholesome temptations。 She never asked the boys what they did
with their money； but expected them to keep account in the little
books she gave them； and； now and then； they showed the neat
pages with pardonable pride； though she often laughed at the queer
items。
All that evening Jack & Co。 worked busily； for when Frank came
in he good…naturedly ordered some pale…pink cards for Annette；
and ran to the store to choose the right shade； and buy some
packages for the young printer also。
〃What do you suppose he is in such a pucker for？〃 whispered Jill；
as she set up the new name； to Frank； who sat close by； with one
eye on his book and one on her。
〃Oh； some notion。 He's a queer chap； but I guess it isn't much of a
scrape； or I should know it。 He's so good…natured he's always
promising to do things for people； and has too much pluck to give
up when he finds he can't。 Let him alone； and it will all come out
soon enough；〃 answered Frank； who laughed at his brother； but
loved him none the less for the tender heart that often got the
better of his young head。
But for once Frank was mistaken； the mystery did not come out；
and Jack worked like a beaver all that week； as orders poured in
when Jill and Annette showed their elegant cards； for； as
everybody knows； if one girl has a new thing all the rest must；
whether it is a bow on the top of her head； a peculiar sort of pencil；
or the latest kind of